GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 451

Short Title:  Independent Living Program Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Plyler, Conder, Speed, Ballance, Lucas, Martin of Pitt, Hobbs, and Rand.

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Referred to:  Appropriations

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March 21, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR A STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
Whereas, the General Assembly has established and funded 13 Independent Living Rehabilitation Program offices that serve 80 counties; and
Whereas, the Independent Living Program enables people with severe physical disabilities to manage their own lives better, to assume more personal responsibility to their families and to their communities, and to become more independent; and
Whereas, the specific services provided by the Independent Living Program, such as rehabilitation engineering, home and vehicle modifications, adaptive equipment purchases, housing placement and assistance, attendant care, attendant management training, planning for leisure activities, and other independent living guidance and counseling services, enable many severely physically handicapped people to maximize their potential as citizens in their homes and in their communities; and
Whereas, three more Independent Living Rehabilitation Program offices are needed to serve the remaining 20 counties:  Anson, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Johnston, Montgomery, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, and Washington; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Department of Human Resources, shall implement the Independent Living Rehabilitation Program statewide by establishing three new offices in Stanly, Wake, and Pasquotank Counties to facilitate Independent Living Rehabilitation Program services in the 20 remaining unserved counties, by providing for the service needs of eligible citizens served through existing Program offices, and by providing adequate administrative support to existing offices and the new offices established pursuant to this section.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Department of Human Resources, the sum of four million fifty-three thousand nine hundred fifty-one dollars ($4,053,951) for the 1995-96 fiscal year and the sum of four million seven hundred fifty-two thousand six hundred twenty-nine dollars ($4,752,629) for the 1996-97 fiscal year to implement this act.
Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.